In the 124th year of the Ming Dynasty (1492), Emperor Yu-Tung commands a Middle Kingdom that stands almost alone in the world. The only other nation of which we are aware is Nippon, which regards us with unconcealed hostility. 20,000 natives populate Hanoi to the south; the cold lands to the north are almost empty. To the west lies permanent terra incognita.
We have the world's largest army, but for inexplicable reasons all 600,000 troops are gathered in one province, Shantung. Before attrition erases them all, the Emperor orders them to disperse around the country. Despite this precautionary measure, we will lose half that number -- a third of a million troops -- to attrition within the next few decades.
We also have the world's strongest economy. We begin with 800 yuan (ducats), and we already have the trading know-how to establish a monopoly, which we do immediately in Tianjin. We are also blessed with cheap prices and abundant goods, and our economy will grow very very quickly.
Our emperor's diplomatic skills are not all they could be. We have no diplomatic corps at all -- not one diplomat -- until 1493. And of course we have no settlers, since our pagan faith and inability to build shipyards means we have no capacity for colonization. At least not yet.
The Emperor decides that the hostile and aggressive Nippon Empire to the east must bow to our will. He orders our forces to concentrate in Seoul and Pusan, in the northeastern part of our country. Of course we lack the capacity even to declare war, since we have no diplomats! No matter; we do receive one diplomat a year, so we can wait. And so we wait. In the meantime, our navy scouts the Japanese islands and reports no troops at all in the southern islands; unfortunately, we cannot reach Edo and the northern isles. But this intelligence is encouraging. Accordingly, in 1497 we launch an armada laden with troops toward Kyoto.
Kyoto itself is undefended, but our 40,000-men contingent is suprised by 75,000 men who descend on them from Edo. We fight valiantly and almost defeat the enemy, but the mountainous terrain and supply situation favor the Japanese. We land a second division of relief troops, but these are cut down more quickly. We shrink away in shame. Later a Japanese force lands on the Korean peninsula, but we beat them back easily, and they request a White Peace. We accept.
In 1500 Yu-Teng passes to the next world, and he is replaced by his infant son; a barely-competent regent rules in his stead. This ruler effects an immediate about-face in our foreign policy. We now lavish gifts on Nippon, gifts that routinely amount to 100 or 250 yuan. By 1507 Nippon as a close ally, and the young emperor's 5-year-old brother is betrothed to a Japanese woman who is seventy years his elder. But even this marriage does not convince Japan to become our vassal. No matter: we shall keep them as an ally for now and deal with them again later.
China settles into decades of peace and prosperity. Our economy explodes. By 1516 we have 4000 yuan. By 1523 we have 5000. In 1526 our intelligence agents report that, as a result of our strong economic performance, we are second only to something called 'Spain' in 'Victory Points.' We of course dismiss the suggestion that anything exists outside the Middle Kingdom. In 1537 I become a Duke; in 1547 a 'Regent'. By 1550 we have 9000 yuan.
We cannot build improvements like art museums, tax collectors or mayors, but it hardly matters: our massive provinces and population provide all the money we need. The only improvement we miss is fortification, but even in this we are fortunate: our emperor spontaneously orders a fortress-building program in several of our provinces.
(continued in this thread)
We have the world's largest army, but for inexplicable reasons all 600,000 troops are gathered in one province, Shantung. Before attrition erases them all, the Emperor orders them to disperse around the country. Despite this precautionary measure, we will lose half that number -- a third of a million troops -- to attrition within the next few decades.
We also have the world's strongest economy. We begin with 800 yuan (ducats), and we already have the trading know-how to establish a monopoly, which we do immediately in Tianjin. We are also blessed with cheap prices and abundant goods, and our economy will grow very very quickly.
Our emperor's diplomatic skills are not all they could be. We have no diplomatic corps at all -- not one diplomat -- until 1493. And of course we have no settlers, since our pagan faith and inability to build shipyards means we have no capacity for colonization. At least not yet.
The Emperor decides that the hostile and aggressive Nippon Empire to the east must bow to our will. He orders our forces to concentrate in Seoul and Pusan, in the northeastern part of our country. Of course we lack the capacity even to declare war, since we have no diplomats! No matter; we do receive one diplomat a year, so we can wait. And so we wait. In the meantime, our navy scouts the Japanese islands and reports no troops at all in the southern islands; unfortunately, we cannot reach Edo and the northern isles. But this intelligence is encouraging. Accordingly, in 1497 we launch an armada laden with troops toward Kyoto.
Kyoto itself is undefended, but our 40,000-men contingent is suprised by 75,000 men who descend on them from Edo. We fight valiantly and almost defeat the enemy, but the mountainous terrain and supply situation favor the Japanese. We land a second division of relief troops, but these are cut down more quickly. We shrink away in shame. Later a Japanese force lands on the Korean peninsula, but we beat them back easily, and they request a White Peace. We accept.
In 1500 Yu-Teng passes to the next world, and he is replaced by his infant son; a barely-competent regent rules in his stead. This ruler effects an immediate about-face in our foreign policy. We now lavish gifts on Nippon, gifts that routinely amount to 100 or 250 yuan. By 1507 Nippon as a close ally, and the young emperor's 5-year-old brother is betrothed to a Japanese woman who is seventy years his elder. But even this marriage does not convince Japan to become our vassal. No matter: we shall keep them as an ally for now and deal with them again later.
China settles into decades of peace and prosperity. Our economy explodes. By 1516 we have 4000 yuan. By 1523 we have 5000. In 1526 our intelligence agents report that, as a result of our strong economic performance, we are second only to something called 'Spain' in 'Victory Points.' We of course dismiss the suggestion that anything exists outside the Middle Kingdom. In 1537 I become a Duke; in 1547 a 'Regent'. By 1550 we have 9000 yuan.
We cannot build improvements like art museums, tax collectors or mayors, but it hardly matters: our massive provinces and population provide all the money we need. The only improvement we miss is fortification, but even in this we are fortunate: our emperor spontaneously orders a fortress-building program in several of our provinces.
(continued in this thread)
